CHILLICOTHE - For the first time in 2018, the Heroin Partnership Project issued a local overdose warning Wednesday after several overdose calls in the past few days.

Between the Ross County Sheriff's Office and the Chillicothe Police Department, there have been about 13 overdose reports in the last week — with seven of the total reports coming in the past three days.

Michelle McAllister, director of the Heroin Partnership Project, said it's too early to tell if there are commonalities to the overdose reports.

"This is unusual for the last few weeks and months," she said. "We won't know more until tests come back, but getting the word out is key."

The Post Overdose Response Team met Wednesday morning and issued the alert after discussion about the spike in OD reports, according to Mike Preston of the sheriff's office.

The Heroin Partnership Project, in conjunction with the Ross County Health District and local law enforcement, issued the warning at about 10:15 a.m. It's the first time local officials have had to issue such a warning since McAllister became the director last July and believed to be the first alert since March 2017.

For addicts, McAllister said reducing their use is the main thing to do, but if you are using, officials insist you don't use alone and to have someone around who can check on you. For family and friends of addicts, it's essential to get access to naloxone to reverse the overdose as soon as possible.

She said naloxone is available through Project DAWN at the Ross County Health District and many pharmacies carry it as well.

The warning also comes after local officials reported a reduction of overdose deaths in 2017 — the first decrease since 2013 — and bucking the statewide trend, which is expected to increase for last year.

"I don't see the warning as a setback," McAllister said. "Because we have PORT and are able to identify the issue, we can get the word out and save lives. When you have the ability to save lives, that's not a setback."

The PORT team was out in full-force Wednesday, making 10 total visits, including trying to reach three overdose survivors who were listed as homeless. McCallister said the homeless status makes it potentially tougher to get those survivors information on recovery resources, but the effort will be made.

Officials said the uptick in cases is likely due to the presence of extremely strong opiate, or opioid, drugs in the area that may be disguised as heroin or fake pills designed to look like legitimate prescription drugs.